Running head:WHEN THINGS CHANGED 1

When Everything Changed

Samira Tara

Nevada State College

When Everything Changed 2

Growing up, I had this sharp pain in my back and got constant headaches. I was always

trying to push through and hide it away like I used to do with all my problems. Throughout the

years, it got worse, and it got harder to cope with it. I went to physical therapy for four years, and

it didn’t seem to work. I was this shy kid who never said more then she had to and just tried to be

in the crowd. I am no longer that person. I am, now, a person who sees the complexity of life and

works to make each day better as well as live each day as if it were my last even if that meant

putting myself first and going against the crowd. Who knew one circumstance could alter my

perspective and who I was, but I am getting ahead of myself, so let me start from the beginning.

It all started January of junior year. I physically wasn’t doing well, and it was pretty

apparent that my back was getting worse. I had been complaining to my dad all week, and I

remember going to lay down in my bed to rest and then being paralyzed with pain and no matter

what I did or how hard I tried I couldn’t move anything from the neck down. The pain was just

too overpowering, and my body became weak. At that moment, I didn’t have to strength to fight

and felt powerless; I couldn’t even call for help.

My dad came into the room and found me on the bed, crying and called the doctor. That

moment was when I knew that a dark storm was coming, and I wasn’t prepared. I spoke to the

doctor and told him everything I was experiencing, and he said, “make sure someone sleeps next

to you tonight because you will most likely stop breathing.” He paused and as he paused I could

feel my heart stop and start sinking. That was probably the last thing at that moment that I

wanted to hear because all I wanted to do was escape reality and not feel the excruciating

electrocuting pain anymore. I went to bed, scared that night and woke up and went to the doctor.

The rest of January and part of February, I was put on heavy medication so that my pain would

lessen while the doctors figured out why a girl my age was in such a great deal of pain. The
When Everything Changed 3

medication, however, made me so sick that I could barely hold food down and lowered my

immunity to the point where I missed numerous school days. Thoughts flooded past my brain

while my body was lethargic. I remember trying to put on a brave face for everyone while I

heard all the terrifying possibilities. I tried to mask all the pain by telling everyone that I knew

the outcome and came to terms with it, but in reality I was trembling and felt I was being pushed

against a corner.

After many weeks I got a call saying that the doctor wanted to discuss my results. The

doctor walked into the room and told me that my condition was permanent and only going to get

worse as I age. Hearing those words was like a weight being dropped on me. I thought the worst

of it would hearing that it was permanent, but hearing that it was only going to get worse as I age

made me tremble with fear. I couldn’t imagine it getting any worse. I realized there wasn’t time

for pity or to feel sorry for myself. This was my new life, and I had to accept it. I have to make

each day count because who knows what can happen. This whole experience taught me how

precious life truly is and made me realize that I can’t let my back pain or any other obstacle stop

me from reaching my potential and being happy. The following week I competed in DECA and

got 3rd place in testing and a 95 on my role play. I didn’t let the pain I was experiencing , the

bullying or the heartbreak stop me from winning the DECA glass. I also confronted every

misconception made about me and broke out of my introverted shell. It wasn’t an ideal

circumstance, but it definitely taught me that even the toughest situations have a silver lining. I

never imagined that one of the hardest moments of my life would have the best outcome on my

view of life.